616 Forestry Quarterly 



staff still presents an obstacle in the way of learning the silvical 

 habits and reqtdrements of the many species unknown to foresters 

 anywhere. The poor natural reproduction and slow growth of 

 nearly all valuable species intensifies the problem. The existence 

 near some of the most important forests of a population dependent 

 upon timber cutting, whose necessities can only be met by over- 

 cutting has been a sore problem, the solution of which is only now 

 under way. 



The poUcy of the Forest Department is, however, to bring all 

 indigenous forest reservations under permanent management. 

 To this end a systematic study of habits and growth of the differ- 

 ent species has been inaugurated and cutting restricted to selec- 

 tion by forest officers. A close supervision is maintained over all 

 cutting operations, and an effort is made to reduce waste in the 

 woods and to encoiirage natural reproduction. Cutting as well 

 as being restricted to marked trees is kept within assigned areas 

 of each forest each year. Cutting, though regulated, is still proba- 

 bly in excess of the proper quantity. Improvement cuttings have 

 been undertaken in some areas. The indigenous forests at pres- 

 ent produce over 900,000 cubic feet of timber annually, chiefly 

 Yellow-wood, Black ironwood and Assegai. The average size of 

 the trees may be judged from the fact that 60,708 trees were cut 

 to produce this quantity of timber. The timber is sold standing, 

 the prices reaUzed being extraordinarily high, having averaged in 

 1914 to 1915, 93^ cents per cubic foot for Assegai, 15^ cents per 

 cubic foot for ClanwiUiam cedar, and 17 cents per cubic foot for 

 Sneezewood. These prices, which are 5 to 10 cents per cubic foot 

 below the previous average, are especially high when it is considered 

 that they represent the average paid for scattered individual trees 

 standing in the forest, and that the logs must be removed miles to 

 a mill or market with crude appHances. As much as 25 cents per 

 cubic foot has been paid for Stinkwood trees 60 miles from a rail- 

 road and 6 cents a cubic foot for Yellow-wood 20 to 30 miles from a 

 railroad. Sneezewood fence posts sell for 25 cents per Hneal foot 

 standing in the forest. If all the species were marketable, forest 

 management in Africa would be much simplified. Unfortunately 

 only the species fit for sleepers (in a coimtry where sleeper specifi- 

 cations are unduly high), cabinet and vehicle work are used. The 

 The other hardwoods cannot compete, under present methods of 

 logging and utilization, with imported Scandinavian and North 



